Speak Up!  Now That Summer's Over...
Author: Mary Varble
Original Publication Date in Love Notes: September 2005

SPEAK UP: Now that summer's over, what have you accomplished--personally or professionally?

Trish Milburn: I've finished my Intrigue manuscript, had a successful National (including the workshop I did with Anna DeStefano), and painted a room in my house.

Cheryl Zach: What did I do: make the Sept deadline for WIP--yes!!!! Or should, anyhow, since I wrote the last of the rough draft yesterday and am now polishing!

Kathy Richards: Not enough! That's my instinctive response, but on reflection,
I realize that I've gotten a lot done: set the promotion and marketing of HOPE'S CAPTIVE in motion; begun researching FAITH'S CAPTIVE; lost some weight (YEAH!!) and visited grandbabies. Gee, is summer almost over?

Monica McCabe: Summer's almost over? Ack! I believe that means I'm behind on my personal to do list. I'm not worried though, my aspirations are always bigger than reality allows. I did mange a few things, however. In my day job I'm no longer a cubicle dweller, I now have an office. At home I put in a stone patio and two new landscape beds. Adopted our fourth cat. But more importantly, I managed to be our chapter contest coordinator (a big time-eater), make more forward progress on the WIP than I've ever done before, AND I did my very first submission to an editor. Twice. No wonder the summer's flown by.

Lori Mofield: It’s so hard to look back over the summer and see what I haven’t done. I always try to see the glass as half full, but in my writing life it’s hard when Guinness Book of World Records is knocking on my door for the most rejections received by any one writer. But, when I look past rejection pile, I can see some accomplishments.

In my writing life, I began a project that had been nagging at me for years; I’ve gotten very positive response from my well-respected critique group and partner. I have a jump drive, which I’ve been wanting for a long time. I finally filed my 2004 taxes in July, which is pretty bad as I get a refund every year. I’ve had a summer where Life Flight hasn’t been called once for any of my boys. I have a new living room set, a new bed and am still working toward a luxury car rather than a practical vehicle. In work, I won my court case where a citizen was suing me for 180 million dollars and my job is secure. I still wish for more time to write, more quality time with my family and a positive influence in the community around me, writing and otherwise. So, although I have yet to receive the call, a goal I set every year, I have been successful in most things.

Sandra Wales: All right you clever MCRW writers. What do you say to the person who does not understand that romance writing is difficult, it's a business, and it's rewarding? I have a few choice phrases, but unless I want my mouth washed out with soap, I can't verbalize them.

I was at a faculty picnic last week with my new friend. (That's another story.) I decided to be brave and answer truthfully what I aspire to write, not what I do write. As soon as the words romance novels left my lips, the crowd grew quiet. (Yes, it was a crowd because someone told people what I did when I was introduced.) I filled the void with the usual, but what got one physician's attention was the huge market, the fact that other female physicians, Tess Gerritsen for one, write romance, and the romance writers who are on the best seller list. I also gave a mini-lecture on goal, motivation, and conflict. I told her what I had taught at the college level such as the use of the five senses, point of view, and the head-hopping controversy. I also mentioned how difficult it was for me to go from historical fiction to romance, and how MCRW was my salvation. I talked about RWA and its goals for writers.She is now in touch with me via email and wants to know more. So what else could I have said?

Jody Wallace: Professionally this summer, I went through a period of impressive fertility and started several new projects that will probably clamor for my time just enough to keep me from finishing any of them. Personally, I gave away a whole litter of stray kittens except one, and if anybody's interested, she's a sweet red tabby which my adult female cat, Meankitty, wants to murder, and she needs a better existence than the fearful one she lives here.

Mary Varble: I finally painted my bedroom, along with the able assistance of my son. I've only been putting it off for three years. As for writing, I've finally finished the revisions/edits on my romantic suspense, TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. As soon as I write two more love scenes, it'll be ready to resubmit to Ellora's Cave editor, Marty Klopfinger. Of course, those two love scenes will now be delayed since I just remembered I have to put the newsletter to bed...instead of my characters.

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